The Global Strategy Continues to Enhance Ghana's statistical Data dissemination Capacity, with a Focus on Agricultural Aggregated Data and Interactive Open Data Portals

As part of the second phase of the Global Strategy to Improve Agricultural and Rural Statistics (GSARS II), FAO organized a training focused on open data standards and dissemination. This workshop was hosted in Ghana from September 25 to 30, 2023, with the expertise of trainer Yasmine El Husseiny.   

A diverse group of fourteen national experts attended the training. This included representatives from organizations such as the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Ghana Statistical Services (GSS), Forestry Commission, Fisheries Commission, and the Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PPMED). Notably, out of these experts, six were women, emphasizing the inclusivity of the workshop.   

The training workshop introduced participants to the intricacies of open data platforms, emphasizing the significance of disseminating aggregated data through modern, web-based tools like spreadsheets and interactive data portals. The curriculum delved deep into the open data standards and principles, touching upon areas like technical formats, licensing, and their definitions. Furthermore, attendees were taken through a hands-on experience, learning to create and update datasets on Ghana's Open Data Portal. They also explored the creation of insightful dashboards and intricate visualizations.  

The latter stages of the workshop marked a transition from theoretical learning to tangible application in a real-world setting. Drawing from the foundational knowledge imparted during the initial sessions, participants, in the concluding two days, actively brainstormed on the Tabulation Plan (TP) for the 2024 Ghana Annual Agricultural Survey. This hands-on approach not only underscored the essence of moving from theory to practice but also highlighted the instrumental role of GSARS in bridging the gap. Serving as a catalyst, GSARS effectively accelerates the implementation of the 50x2030 initiative, emphasizing the symbiotic relationship between learning and practical execution in advancing agricultural statistics.   

In retrospect, the training stood out as a monumental success. Attendees left with a deepened understanding and sharpened skills in open data standards and dissemination, ready to implement and make impactful changes in their respective domains.  

In closing, this transformative journey wouldn't have been possible without the unwavering commitment of the FAO Representation in Ghana. Their steadfast support, coupled with the generous contributions from our donors, the European Union and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has been instrumental in realizing the objectives of these workshops.